J. Curtis Waldo, a local publisher and photo-engraver, issued his Illustrated Visitors' Guide to New Orleans in 1879. The guide features tourist highlights in the Crescent City along with prominent businesses (and businessmen), institutions, and organizations of the day. It is well illustrated with photo-engraved views of buildings and portraits of New Orleanians. There is considerable similarity between this work and the earlier Jewell's Crescent City Illustrated (see the November 2002 Gallery), as well as similarities with such later guides such as John E. Land's Pen Illustrations of New Orleans (1882), William H. Coleman's Historical Sketch Book and Guide to New Orleans... (1885), and Andrew Morrison's Industries of New Orleans (1885). We present here a sample of Waldo's building views, a glimpse of New Orleans 125 years ago.

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